When it comes to ice hockey, few take Egypt seriously. However, there are people in this country who are doing everything possible to change this situation. The local hockey organization intends to join the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in order to be able to compete in major international competitions, including the Winter Olympics.
To do this, Egypt has a long way to go, but the general manager and assistant captain Sameh Ramadan has a clear plan. In the near future, he plans to hold a match of his team against the background of the country's main symbol - the pyramids. In his opinion, this should attract the attention of the IIHF and the world hockey community.
“Just imagine how amazing this spectacle will be against the backdrop of the pyramids. If we manage to play the game next to the pyramids, it will be a landmark event - ice hockey in the desert in front of one of the ancient wonders of the world, ”cites Ramadan of The Hockey News.
In this case, the matter is not limited to a match. To attract fans, the functionary expects to hold a sports festival. In the process of organizing, he is assisted by international charitable foundations involved in the development of hockey around the world.
At the moment, the main problem is the construction of a full-size ice rink with real ice.
However, for such an ambitious project, one match is not enough. Ramadan intends to assemble a competitive team worthy of performing at a high level.
Being the owner of Egyptian and American citizenship, he uses his connections to search for players with Egyptian roots, as well as coaches willing to work with the team. The manager himself is confident that a real hockey star can be born in any country.
It is worth noting that in this matter he has already made significant progress. If the club’s Africa Cup in 2016, only nine hockey players were listed in the Egyptian application, now those who wish to have to go through a full selection and send their video portfolios. In total, the country has 120 hockey players - both men and women.
It is interesting that social networks contributed to the growth of the collective’s popularity. Four years ago, the Reddit forum actively discussed the logo of the Egypt Hockey Federation, which shows the pharaoh in an old goalkeeper mask, and game sweaters. Many hockey fans appreciated the design and admitted that they would like to get a copy of the form for their collections.
As for the formal component of the issue, Egyptian hockey players need to get permission from the local Ministry of Sports or the Olympic Committee. A meeting with officials was scheduled for this spring, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Such a letter will enable the hockey federation to continue to introduce the educational component in Egypt - in fact, to prove that the club can increase interest in this sport in the country. And only after that we will be able to apply for membership in the IIHF, ”Ramadan explained.
The official status will help to solve such problems as the high cost of equipment, as well as the lack of rollers of a suitable size.
It is believed that hockey in Egypt began to develop in 2002, when local athletes began to hold their first matches in one of Cairo's ice palaces. In 2016, they took part in the African Championship, where they took last place. And in September 2017, their first victory at the international level took place. With a score of 3: 2, the team of Morocco was beaten.
Finally, in February of this year, the “Pharaohs” received an invitation to the club championship among the teams of Arab states, held in Kuwait. In the match for bronze medals, they lost to Lebanon with a score of 2: 3 and took fourth place among six participants.
“We are very pleased with our roster, this is the best team we have ever managed to put together. It combines versatility and experience, and hockey players are eager to defend the honor of their country in the tournament, ”Egypt Today quoted Ramadan as saying.
If Sameh succeeds in implementing his plan, Egypt will become the fourth country in Africa, which is part of the international federation. The South African national team joined the IIHF back in 1937 and is currently playing in the third division, the winner of which it became in 2013. Morocco and Algeria received official status in 2009 and 2019, respectively.